Zupan: Bernie Sanders is an ‘absentee landlord,’ this race is about Vermont

By Lawrence Zupan

Next month, Vermont will elect a U.S. senator. Vermonters want a senator for Vermont. By his own choices, Bernie Sanders has ceased to be that senator.

As the Republican Party nominee for the U.S. Senate, I make four promises to the voters of Vermont. If elected to serve in the U.S. Senate, I promise I will show up for votes in the Senate. I will be available to the people and press of Vermont. I will spend my time in either Vermont or in Washington, D.C. And now and six years from now, I will gladly debate my opponent.

Lawrence Zupan for U.S. Senate

Manchester resident Lawrence Zupan

These four promises alone set me apart from Bernie Sanders, who has become the Senate version of an absentee landlord — rarely present, incommunicado when you need him, and obviously more interested in his next big venture.

In the first quarter of 2016, our junior senator missed 37 out of 38 Senate votes. He missed 115 out of 163 during the whole (presidential election) year. If — as many people believe — he runs for president again in 2020, Vermont can expect the same dismissive representation on the Senate floor.

Sanders was not only missing from the Senate in 2016, he will be missing from Vermont much of this October, the final month before the election. Talk about voting with your feet — Bernie Sanders has shaken dusty Vermont loose, in favor of bringing his false socialist gospel to more “important” and perhaps receptive voters elsewhere. The headline from today’s Washington Post reads, “Bernie Sanders plans nine-day blitz for democratic candidates on midterm ballot.” Not coincidentally, the trip next week includes several stops in Iowa, home of the first 2020 presidential vote. He will also speak with the good people of South Carolina, Nevada, Indiana, Michigan, Wisconsin, Arizona, Colorado and California.

Rather than travel to South Carolina, I will drive to South Hero. Instead of Nevada, I’ll go to Newport. I’ll pass on Indiana but gladly make the road trip to Ira. At every stop along the way I will be talking to and listening to Vermonters. Since my campaign began earlier this year, I have been listening to what Vermonters want from their Washington, D.C., representatives.

What Vermonters want most is good jobs, education and health care, and a future of hope, peace and prosperity for their families. If elected I will oppose grandstanding legislation like the Sanders BEZOS bill that would load a huge, subjective tax burden not just on bogeyman Amazon but on every U.S. company of 500 or more employees. I would help skills-hungry Americans develop market-ready employment skills rather than champion the obsolete, too-expensive, bricks-and-mortarboard “free college for all.” And I would put the health care consumer in the drivers’ seat by allowing multiple health insurers to offer them the best bang for their buck, rather than have our debt-ridden federal government impose gigantic health care taxes, listed in two recent studies at $32 trillion.

I welcome the opportunity to talk about any of my policies or statements with the Vermont press. Absentee landlord Sanders and his aides were happy to tell the Washington Post about his national campaign plans, but our Vermont media — like our voters — can’t seem to get his attention. VT Digger and Seven Days have published stories about his non-availability. Sure, he’s quick on the draw with press releases, but that’s one-way communication. But national TV shows and magazines have no trouble getting a piece of Sanders’ time.

I have asked the Sanders campaign repeatedly for early debates. It has refused. This is a slap in the face not only to the working press but to the voters who want to see and hear Senate nominees defend policies and positions, especially the Democrats’ choice (Sanders) and the Republicans’ choice (me).

Every mile that Sanders runs toward the voters and donors in California, he runs away from a Vermont debate with me. He is treating Vermonters like an upholstered footstool, a convenient object for him to plant his foot on as he reaches for the top shelf of American government.

I hope our traveling senator soon will realize what this election is really about. It’s about Vermont.

Lawrence Zupan, a Manchester resident, is the Republican nominee for the U.S. Senate.

Images courtesy of U.S. Navy and Lawrence Zupan for U.S. Senate

16 thoughts on “Zupan: Bernie Sanders is an ‘absentee landlord,’ this race is about Vermont

  1. You’re preaching to the choir. Nobody who reads True North is going to vote for Bernie. Your problem is getting the votes of committed Dems and Progs. They don’t care how often Bernie shows up to do his job; they vote for him “just because” he’s Bernie and they hate Trump. You need to address with real emotion the perpetual cycle of economic despair created by Montpelier, to fuel Montpelier’s appetite, and the obvious absence of any desire in Montpelier to somehow stop the bleeding for the middle class. I’m 66, Social Security benefits fall short, and have to continue working just to pay taxes. I’m tired. And I think about all those welfare recipients, able to work but won’t, because Montpelier enables them. This is the great state of Vermont’s legacy? This is regressive, uncaring and personally destructive. Can’t you rethink your arguments to replace Bernie?

  2. In writing to Vermont Digger about Sanders socialist lie…roughly below…

    1st-Scandinavian countries aren’t socialist – they do have a big social net

    They are hyper capitalists
    No minimum wage
    No paid time and a half, straight time, many work more than 40 hrs per week.
    Lowest corruption in world
    Major Industry in Shipping
    Major industry in oil, gas
    Major industry in electronics
    Major industry in fishing
    Tire industry
    Car industry
    One hour to a business permit
    70% Lutheran Protestant
    Great schools
    Previously nobody abused the safety net

    The list goes on, why does the news and republicans let him get away with the lies? And he’s pushing this Democratic Socialism on Facebook to beat the band. Seriously good, excellent propaganda that has entirely taken in by those under 30 who haven’t been educated in governance, our own civics, propaganda and what countries have experienced with this.

    Guess what they did with the comment? REFUSED TO POST IT.

    There is a reason lies last so long, he’s being helped by too many people and organizations.

  3. Could my perception be erroneous that there is a growing “Sick of Sanders Sentiment”? He is so much for the little guy — or so he foghorns — that i would be absolutely crushed, crushed, if that were true.

    Full disclosure: I am NOT crushed.

  4. Bernie Sanders – Vermont’s Shady Socialist !

    Interestingly, good old Bernie isn’t the Democrat’s candidate as he refused their endorsement after winning their primary by a substantial margin ! Staying true to his fraudulent campaign rhetoric, Sanders had also petitioned onto the general election ballot as an “independent” as he has done in every congressional election since 1990 – this maneuver. endorsed by his lap dog supporter Secretary of State “Jim” Condos, is designed to prevent the “Bern” from having to contend with a Democrat challenger in the General Election, a clever and fraudulent way to keep “real Democrats” from questioning his shady Congressional record !

    • Speaking along this line ,I see where the Burnmeister is going to campaign tour,less than a month before the midterm congressional elections, Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., is headed on a nine-state tour to campaign for Democrats.

      His road trip will include stops in Iowa, South Carolina, Michigan, Indiana, Nevada, Wisconsin, Arizona, Colorado and California in the run-up to the Nov. 6 election.

      Is he representing Vermont citizens or the citizens of Iowa, South Carolina, Michigan, Indiana, Nevada, Wisconsin, Arizona, Colorado and California?

      ]Yet he refuses to debate candidates here in Vermont who would challenge him.

  5. You have my support and vote,I’m tired of footing the bill for the Burnmeister to travel the world to preach his beloved Marxism.

  6. Question.

    If you don’t show up for work, how can you still get paid? How can you still hold the job!!!!!

    Meanwhile you make millions of dollars peddling lies and fantasies. The latest being Scandanavian countries are socialist….lie. They are hyper capitalists, with a generous safety net. How does the main stream, all the media, republicans let him get away with so many blatant lies, it’s like they are all in cahoots.

    Is he living by his own tax code? 27 years you’ve been talking…..let’s see you walk the walk.

    I used to think Bernie was for the little guy, wasn’t such a bad guy. Seems he’s really good at one thing….complaining and getting nothing done.

  7. Mr Zupan will only need to accomplish one real thing in the senate which will be more than Bernie has ever accomplished the whole time that he’s been in there. He screams a good game but what has he ever done??

  8. Yes, Bernie ” Soapbox” Sanders has bigger plans again and as we have seen, Bernie
    comes first. If he finds the time he may do a little for Vermont work or save the world !!

    Mr. Zupan, I can’t wait to see a debate with the ” Bernmister ” It’s like watching a magic act
    you never know what he’s going to pull out of his hat !! I know one thing for sure, if he shows
    it will be Huuuuge , just ask him.

    Good Luck Lawrence, we need a good Senator we’ve been bamboozled long enough.

    • Bernie is so sure of himself that he is a shoe in for the Senate! Mr. Zupan keep up the talking to Vermonter throughout the state. Tell us what you will do for us and lets give Bernie the surprise of his life.

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